Notice on improving medical liability insurance solutions

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-08-04

Insurance companies are encouraged to invest more in developing medical liability insurance by cultivating more talented employees, thus better managing risks and providing more services. They must compete rationally and refrain from violating regulations or bringing harm to either medical institutions or their patients.

Insurance companies must review insurance cases regularly to adjust premiums according to the risk rating of medical institutions. Tailored insurance products are welcome, and so are innovations that are able to meet varied and multi-level demands from medical institutions. Insurance claims should be based on the people’s mediation protocol but with simplified procedures, simplified processes and upgraded services.

Enhancing the coordination between related departments to promote medical liability insurance

Medical liability insurance is an important part of the medical risk-pooling process in China. Departments of all levels should lead the efforts to steadily promote medical liability insurance in support of these policies and regulations.

Insurance companies are encouraged to get involved early in settling medical disputes as a complementary solution for mediations. Medical institutions should strengthen cooperation with insurance companies and third-party mediation organizations to avert medical disputes or to get them settled more smoothly. They should establish a seamless, long-term communication channel with them in order to be fully informed of details including feedback on medical quality and safety, insurance claims, etc., and be able to fix the problems in time. These solutions can put medical liability insurance well on track for a sound and sustainable development.

Exploring risk-pooling methods that suit China’s national conditions

Recent years have witnessed many kinds of localized risk-pooling systems including regulations that helped prevent or settle medical disputes and that called for a medical liability insurance system. A slew of supporting measures have been rolled out in a combined effort by the departments of health and family planning, the judicial administration, insurance regulation and traditional Chinese medicine management. They created a framework for medical liability insurance, set standards for insurance claims, encouraged medical institutions to seek insurance packages that underwrite both people and property with comprehensive solutions, and established a co-insurance system to share medical risks. These measures have led to various achievements over the years.